Water-wheel



ATENT, OFFICE.

OALEB BOND, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

WATER-WHEEL. y

Specification of Letters Patent No.-28,826, dated .Tune 26, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Oxna BOND, of Richmond, in the county of IVayne and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in IVater-l/Vheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, made to form a part of this specification.

The nature of my improvement consists in the employment, and peculiar adapta-tion and arrangement of hinged auxiliary buckets; by means of which I am enabled to adjust the water wheel as required, so as to secure the best effect from any given quantity of water.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective view. Fig. 2, a sectional view of the main wheel. Fig. 3, a. planof main wheel with top plate removed. Figs. 4, and 5, a sectional view and pla-n of auxiliary wheel.

lith reference to the construction, A, is the main shaft and for purposes of description the end on which is placed the gear B, will be denominated the upper end, though in the practical working of the wheel it is not necessarily so, as the wheel may be arranged either end up or in a horizontal position. Upon the lower end of shaft A, is arranged the curved descending and divergent surface c cl, terminating in a plane or level surface extending from (Z, to the periphery at b. On this surface are arranged the spiral partitions a, which are contracted gradually in depth, from their inner and upper ends to their lower and outer ends or termination at b, the periphery of the wheel. To the top of these spiral partitions a, is fitted an upper plate c, extending in an annular form from point f, to the periphery of the wheel. Thus are formed curved passages g. These passages g, taper both in depth and width or thickness, from the center to the periphery, their larger dimensions in both particulars being next to the center opening f They also each make an entire circuit reaching the periphery on the same radial line from which they start near the center.

The portions of the partitions a, within the circle of the opening f f, may both converge toward each other as they approach the center and also decline in height. Opposite the termination of each partition a, at

the periphery is arranged a pivoted or hinged bucket or section, It, upon the adjacent partition, and this section 71 is made adjustable by means of a pin x, and series of holes as shown, or other suitable means, so as to contract the exit opening of the water passages or chutes, g, at that point to any required extent. By adjusting the capacity of the exit openings in this manner I am enabled to use more or less water, proportionately to the amount of power required.` That part of the passages g, where the sections IL, swing has its top made parallel to the bottom so that the sections may fill the space vertically and swing freely.

The two ends of shaft A, are sustained by pivots, or step and bearings in the usual manner.

A suitable flumeO, is arranged in connection with the orifice f f, and the joint may be formed in any suitable manner as by means of the flange at f1, on the wheel and the rim z', bolted to the flume and inclosing said flange with suiicient looseness to allovvT it to rotate freely within.

D, is a gate by which to let on or shut olf the water from the wheel.

B, is a gear wheel to transmit motion from the wheel to any machinery it may be required to drive. An auxiliary wheel marked D1, and shown separately in Figs. l, and 5, may be used in connection with the above described main wheel or may be dispensed with as may best suit the case in which the improvement may be required to be employed. This auxiliary wheel is composed of a rim encircling the periphery of the main wheel directly over` against its exit openings, and is furnished with a series of buckets arranged upon its inner surface. These buckets J, are curved and inclined backward at their lower end and occupy the space between the periphery of the main wheel and the rim of the auxiliary as completely as is consistent with their revolving freely around the main wheel, and terminate at the top against a iiange turned inward upon the rim to which they are attached. The rim is furnished with arms la, and a central hub in which is fixed a shaft Z, on which is fixed a gear wheel m, from which the motion of the auxiliary wheel is transmitted in the usual manner. Vhen the auxiliary wheel is employed its shaft may be supported in bearings, or a step and bearings, in the usual manner, and a step may be arranged upon its hub or the end of its shaft to receive the pivot .of the shaft of the main Wheel.

When the shaft A, is arranged horizontally a bearing n, may support it beyond the gate D, and the opposite end may then be extended to .carry a gear Wheel, crank or pulley, to transmit its motion. When the full power of the Wheel is required the sections h, are closed up against their respective partitions a, as shown at 0, and the Water being let on by opening the gate D, passes down through opening f f, into and through the passages g, and escaping under pressure in the direction of the opening of passages g, at the periphery reacts upon the Wheel to drive it in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrow. The particular form of passages g, viz., inclining downward, diverging spirally, and contracting gradually, from the ingress to the exit openings, preserves the pressure unreduced by friction comparatively if not entirely, to the exit, and so secures the best effect. Vhen the auxiliary Wheel D1, is employed, the Water escaping from the periphery of the first Wheel falls upon the buckets J, of

the secondary Wheel D1, and drives that in the opposite direction.

When less power is required than the full capacity of the first Wheel, the adjustable sections It, are then adjusted so as to close up the exit openings of passages g, proportionately to the amount of povver required as illustrated by the positions represented, of tvvo of said sections shown in Fig. 3, so reducing the discharge of Water in a like proportion, and eecting a great saving thereof. The parts may be made of iron or any suitable material usually employed in manufactures of the same class.

Having described the construction and operation of my improvement What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- In combination with the passages, g, the hinged auxiliary buckets, h, the Whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially in the manner as specified for the purposes described.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

CALEB BOND. lVitnesses J. B. ELLIOTT, CHARLES L. FISHER. 

